Hi all,
I'm sorry if this topic has already been posted but I didn't find it through searching...

I am considering purchasing larger sails so I can get more time on the water and plane in 10-15 mph. I have the typical 430 & 460 masts and I was thinking it would be OK to get a 50 or 60 cm extension rather than forking out the $$ for a 520 or 490. Any thoughts on using the 460 w/ long extension for a 9.5 or 10 m^2?

As for boards I have an old mistral malibu LCS (which I'm sure won't help) but I have ben thinking of purchasing a used wide board for ease of planning. Are there any veterans that have already lived and learned from these attempts? Thanks.

rdm, yes...I know light wind windsurfing well....

I used to use a 490 mast with a 30cm extension for my 9.6. It seemed to work just fine. Not sure if they make 50 or 60cm extensions. I finally forked over for a 520 mast.

a 9.5/10.0 on a wide style board will have you screaming in 10-15mph....depending on your weight and skill....planing in 8-12mph. More time on the water. I've had my wide style board...same one for almost 10 years now....AHD Free Diamond 77. If you ever find one somewhere, get that board....they're hard to find and don't make them like that anymore. As one of my buddies said, its given me more "hollar for the dollar" than anything else. Your friends will be envious when you're the only one out on the water planing in 10mph wind.

Powerex and North have mast extendos. Powerex has a 40 and 60 while north has a 50cm. They also call them mast stumps. I've seen mixed reviews on them, so I'm not sure if it is better to use a tall adjustable extension. That only gets me 48cm max.

I'm 70kg (150lbs) so I'm hoping to plane in 8-12 mph with a 9.5 Man that would be so sweet. My 460 mast is 30% carbon tops. It is pretty stiff so I'm tempted try the 60 cm stump. However if we are talking about substantially increasing time on the water then forking out the $$ for the 520 doesn't seem quite as bad. This argument may not be as popular with my wife. Certainly would be nice not to carry a 4 mast to Buxton though. Thanks very much for your thoughts.

-ralph

Ralph, Here is what it's like:

http://thewaterturtle.blogspot.com/2009/...erapy.html

Cool video Mac!

It's neat seeing the boom and sail flexing with the bumps.

And the sailor bumping with the beats!!

Did you do that on purpose or did it just come out like that?

LOL....I actually didn't try to do that....sort of happened on its own. You guys sail today?

We got it good today 3 1/2 hrs fully powered out in the channel b/t D5 & D7. Jim C came to join us and was on 5.4...and Rob and I on 6.4s.

Yeah, we saw Donald out there for a while around 3:00~ I think he was on the 5.8 at first, then the 6.1. I was on the 6.2 around 11:00AM and really didn't get off the water till 4:00. What a beautiful day it was! A lot of boats though....

Alan

Mac,
That video would make even the most grizzled veteran jealous! And you tied in the occasional head bob nicely. Did you guys sail Norman?

Thanks. Yes we did. Check out the latest GoPro windsurfing video I posted from last weekend on Lake Norman.

Mac,
There is a 2002 AHD free diamond 74 on iWindsurf. Do these boards have a centerline option for the rear foot strap? Is there also an inboard option for the front straps? I can't tell from the resolution of the pics on the website.

http://www.a-h-d.com/boards/windsurf/2002/free-diamond/